Original artwork, not a still
Nobody calls me chicken.
— Back to the Future Part II · 1989
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
It is the single button that rules Marty's life: call him chicken and he forgets every warning he has had, from Doc or anyone else. Part II makes that flaw the cause of his ruined future, and in Part III's 1985 he finally turns down Needles' race. The line is shorthand for anyone who cannot back down from a dare, and fans quote it with the pause before "chicken".
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Back to the Future Part IIShow the scene
Back to the Future Part II (1989), not the first film. In 2015, Doc has told Marty to take the place of his son, Marty Jr., and refuse an offer from Biff Tannen's grandson Griff to join a robbery. Griff taunts him with "Chicken, McFly," and Marty answers with this line, which turns into a fight and a hoverboard chase through Hill Valley. Later, Jennifer sees Marty's own 2015 self goaded by his co-worker Douglas Needles into a shady deal. He answers Needles with the same line, and it gets him fired.
Sources (2)
- Wikipedia: Back to the Future Part IIPlot, 2015 sequenceReference checked
- Springfield! Springfield! script: Back to the Future Part II2015 scenes with Griff and with NeedlesReference checked
Context reviewed
